CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
Shanghai 2
Shanghai is great. Every time I come to this city, I’m reminded why it consistently ranks first or top two for “best cities to live in China”
Shanghai
The traditional looking pictures were taken at Yuyuan park in Shanghai. The Chinese characters I’m pointing at is a chéng yǔ - a Chinese set expression, often made up of 4 characters or two couplets of 4 characters each, often alluding to a story or historical quotation; idiom; proverb; or saying. This is one too hard to describe. Something about always working towards your goals and the mountain is high but you go in a circle and reach the point where you were going. It’s confusing…
More from Shanghai
My 3 English friends had never been to Hooters beore, so we told the waitress it was one of their birthdays and he thoroughly enjoyed it
The Bund
Walked all over Shanghai today looking for a gym, and found one in a hotel that I snuck into. After, made my way to the bund. Amazing sight.
Update: Shanghai was amazing. The city, the people, the environment, it was just so refreshing after being in Beijing for so long. The city feels more natural, less controlled - probably because all the government buildings are located in Beijing. Shanghai is more green, with trees on every street. There were noticeably less electric scooters and less people blaring their car horns. The street lights had timers on them so cars knew how much longer that green light would last, making it also easier for pedestrians to gauge if they can make it across the street or not. It might sound like a small thing, but this is a huge problem in Beijing - pedestrians. They operate in a 'mob-mentality' regardless of the color of the light. Shanghai was literally and figuratively a breathe of fresh air and I will certainly be open to looking for jobs there upon graduation
Awhile back my company did a photo shoot and they put my picture on the internet, no problem
My buddy in Shanghai just sent me this and said they are all over the place. This is not what I had in mind when I fantasized about being ‘famous’